Suction cleaner



April 12, 1938. D. G. SMELLIE SUCTION CLEANER Filed June 25, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Donald 6! Jim/11v ZZZ 32am April 12, 1938;. D. G. SMELLIE SUCTION CLEANER Filed June 25, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 flonala lmelll'e lllllllllIllflllllllllllllllIIlIlllllllhllllllllllll IIllllll|llllll|Ill"llllllllllllllllllllllllllllll ATTO RNEY 5 interiorly connected by an air passageway 2 to.

Patented Apr. 12, 1938 PATENT OFFICE SUCTION CLEANER Donald G. Smellie, Canton, Ohio, assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application June 25, 1934, Serial No. 732,217

19 Claims.

The present invention relates to suction cleaners in general, and particularly to new and novel means for driving the agitator of the suction cleaner. More specifically the invention comprises a new agitator-driving mechanism which converts the rotating force of the motor into an arcuate rotary movement of the surface-contacting agitator.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved suction cleaner. It isv another object of the invention to provide new and improved agitator-driving means in a suction cleaner. A further object is the provision of power transmission means in a suction cleaner which convert the rotating driving torque of the cleaner motor into a reciprocating action in the surface-contacting agitator. A still further object is the provision of power-converting means in the cleaner nozzle which transforms the force transmitted by the driving belt from the cleaner motor into a pivotal movement of the surfacecontacting agitator about an axis parallel to the surface undergoing cleaning. These and other morev specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims and upon considering in connection therewith the attached drawings to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present invention are disclosed:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a suction cleaner embodying the present invention with certain parts broken away and shown in section;

Figure 2 is an enlarged section through the power-transmitting means in the nozzle, being a view similar to the nozzle section of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a partial longitudinal section through the agitator being taken upon the line 3-3 of Figure 4;

Figure 4 is a partial bottom view of the cleaner nozzle;

Figure 5 discloses a modified part of the powertransmission means;

Figure 6 is a section upon the line 66 of Figure 5; I

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing a third preferred modification;

Figure 8 is a section upon the line 8-8 of Figure '7.

Referring to Figure 1 in particular, a modern suction cleaner embodying an agitator and agitator-driving means constructed in accordance with the present invention is ,disclosed. The cleaner is seen to comprise a nozzle l which is the fan chamber 3. To the exhaust outlet 4 from the fan chamber 3 is removably connected a dust bag 5 by securing means 6. An unshown driving motor is positioned within the motor casing 1 immediately over the fan chamber 3 and the.

motor shaft 8 extends downwardly through the fan chamber 3, where it carries the rotating fan 9 into the air passageway 2 where it is provided with a pulley Ill. The cleaner is movably supported by spaced front and rear wheels H, H and I2, l2 and, as in the usual cleaner construction, a pivoted cleaner handle ;l3 is provided by which the operator can exert a propelling force upon the machine and down which the incoming power leads M, II extend.

As in the usual efiicient suction cleaner surface-contacting-agitator means are provided which supplement the cleaning action of the moving air. The agitator, indicated by the reference character l5, extends across the nozzle for its entire length and is provided with two spaced surface-contacting agitating elements I6, I 6. Agitator I5 is pivotally mounted at its ends upon bearings l1, l1 carried in the side arms of the frame l8 which is itself pivotally mounted on pins 19, i9 in the rear of the nozzle mouth. Frame I8 is secured in position relative to the-nozzle, as shown in full lines in Figures 1 and 2, by means of a pivoted latch of a well known type indicated generally by the reference character 20. Front and rear nozzle lips 2| and 22 which define the nozzle mouth are formed on this frame I 8 which is itself sealed to the casing proper by a continuous seal 23 which encircles the nozzle mouth in position to contact the frame. The frame i8 is adapted to be pivoted from the nozzle 1 to the dotted line position shownv in Figure 1 to make possible the change or repair of any parts in the nozzle.

Positioned substantially centrally of the nozzle I is a counterbored seat 25 which is normally covered at the surface of nozzle l by a removable cap 26. Within seat 25 are positioned two spaced bearings 21 and 28, the outer races of which are carried in rubber rings 29, 29. A pulley 30 is rotatively carried by'bearings 21 and 28 being provided with an upstanding vertical shaft 3| which seats within the inner races of the bearings. A screw-retained shoulder 32 rests upon the upper bearing 21 to supporttthe pulley, the presence of a spacing ring 33 between the two inner races insuring that the lower bearing 28 bears its share of the load.

Bearings 21 and 28 are protected from foreign matter suspended in the air passing through the nozzle I by a labyrinth formed by the peripheral adapted to receive the driving belt 3'! which extends back through the air passageway to the driving pulley ill on the motor shaft. In operation of the machine, obviously, pulley 30 is rotated by the belt 31 at a speed which is determined by the ratio of its own diameter to the diameter of pulley ill. To transform the rotation of pulley 30 into a reciprocating motion for agitator i5 a gyrator member 40 is providedwhich comprises an open-bottomed body and a short shaft 4!. Shaft M is eccentrically mounted in pulley 30 by means of a bearing 42. Within the downwardly facing body of gyrator 40 is frictionally retained a resilient rubber member or disk 43 which is formed with a cutout portion 44 in its top center immediately below shaft 4i. Rotation of disk 43 in g'yrator 40 is prevented by studs 45, of which there may be a number,

which extend downwardly from the top face of gyrator 40 into corresponding recesses 4B. A retaining cap 4! is pressed over the outside of gyrator 40 and underlies disk 43 to retain it in place. I

Imbedded in disk 43 and extending downwardly from the center thereof is a hexagonal headed power-transmitting member 49K. which extends downwardly through opening 5| in agitator l5 and in the block'SIl which fills the body at that point. Member 49 is forked at its lower end and straddles a transverse pin 52 carried by the block 50. The seat or opening 5| in the agitator body is sufliciently wide, in the direction of the length of the agitator, to permit free pivotal movement of member 49 about pin 52 in that direction. Any movement of the driving member 49 in a direction having a component perpendicular to the axis of the agitator, however, results in the pivotal movement of the agitator about its supporting bearings H, H.

The operation (if the cleaner constructed in accordance with the present, invention is quite simple. The rotation of the driving motor causes the suction-creating fan 9 to create a reduced pressure which is effective to draw cleaning air through the nozzle i, the air passageway 2, the

fan chamber 3 and exhaust it by way of the exhaust outlet '4 into the dust bag 5. -The reduced pressure created within the nozzle 8 lifts the surface covering undergoing cleaning into contact with the nozzle lips 25 and 22 and into a position in which it is contacted by the cleaning elements i6, i6 of the agitator l5. Asthe driving pulley l isrigidly carried by the motor shaft 8 its rotation causes the pulley 30 in the nozzle 1 to be rotated by the belt 31. Pulley 30 rotates freely in its supporting bearings 27! and 28 and causes the vertical shaft M of the gyrator 48 to be carried in a circular path about the center of rotation of the pulley. Gyrator 48 does not rotate, the shaft 4i being rotatively mounted in bearing 42 in the pulley, and as it moves it carries with it the hexagonal-headed powertransmitting member 49. which is connected, as before described, to the agitator i through extending therein and straddling the pin 52. The components of movement of gyrator 40 which are in the direction of the length ofthe agitator result perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the agitator, however, result in the pivotal movement of the agitator about its supporting axis, and

the effect is a high speed reciprocation of the rigid beater elements I6, IS in an arcuate path to beat and dislodge foreign matter from the surface covering. The disk 43 which carries the member 49 is made of a resilient matter, and, being provided with the recess 44 immediately above member 50 is adapted to give and become distorted to permit the necessary pivoting of member 49 to accomplish the results described.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6 in particular, a second preferred type of connection between the agitator i5 and gyrator 40 is disclosed. In this embodiment the hexagonal-headed member 49 which was embedded in the disk 43 in the first embodiment has been omitted and instead a metallic seat member 55 has been provided in disk 43 which is adapted to receive and seat a ballheaded power-transmittingmember 56 which is carried by the pin 52 of the agitator, being pivotally mounted thereon by a bearing 51. The operation of this embodiment is similar to that first described except that the member 56 rolls in its metallic seat in the member 43 instead of distorting that member, as in the first embodiment. Inthis modification in the pivoting of the frame i8 from the nozzle thepower-transmitting member 56 will be carried by the agitator whereas in the first embodiment the member 49 remained as a part of the disk 43.

Referring now to Figures 7 and 8 in particular a third variation of the invention is disclosed in which the power-transmitting means are identical with those shown in Figures 5 and 6 but one of the beater elements 16 has been replaced by a surface-contacting brush 5a which is removably positioned within its seat on the agitator body IS. The operation of this embodiment of the invention is identical with those afordescribed with the exception that a brushing action is provided to supplement the beating action of the rigid element l6 which is positioned diametrically opposite on the agitator.

1. In a suction cleaner, a rotating driving member, a power-transmitting member, a rotating driven member, a member eccentrically carriedrby said driven member, said member being rotatively mounted in the driven member and being non-rotatable about its own axis, a surface contacting agitatorpivoted for movement about an axis at an angle to the axis of said driven member, means mounted for pivotal movement only on said agitator to reciprocate said agitator as said eccentric member revolves about the center of rotation of said driven member and means mounting said last-mentioned means for limited universal movement on said eccentric member.

2. In a suction cleaner, a surface-contacting agitator, means mounting said agitator for arcuate rotary movement about a horizontal axis, a rigid member mounted to move with said agitator about its axis and to pivot independently about an axis at right angles thereto,'means to move the end of said rigid member spaced from said agitator in an orbit having components of' direction perpendicular to the axis of said agitator, said last mentioned means comprising a resilient body-in which the end of said rigid a power-transmitting belt, a driven pulley, and

a resilient body moved in a circular path and seating said rigid member and ecoentrically carried by said pulley.

4. In a suction cleaner having suction-creating means, a nozzle, and an air passageway therebetween; a rotating driving member in said passageway at said suction-creating means, a rotating driven member in said nozzle, bearing means carried lfy said nozzle rotatably supporting one end of said driven member, a powertransmitting belt in said passageway connecting said driving and said driven members, an eccentric bearing having an inner and an outer race carried by said driven member, a gyrator seated in the inner race of said bearing carried by said driven member for rotation relative thereto, an agitator in said nozzle mounted for arcuate rotary motion about an axis at an angle to the axis of rotation of said driven member, and a rigid member pivoted to said agitator about an axis perpendicular to the axis thereof .and adapted to rotate therewith, said rigid, member being connected to said gyrator and being moved thereby in a circular orbit.

5. In a suction cleaner having suction-creating means, a nozzle, andan air passageway therebetween; a rotating drivingmember in said passageway at said suction-creating means, a rotating driven member in said nozzle, bearing means rotatably supporting saiddriven member in said nozzle, power-transmission means connecting said driving and said driven members, an eccentric having co-axial inner and outer races carried by said driven member, a gyrator rotatably seated in said bearing in said driven member, an agitator in said nozzle mounted for arcuate rotary motion about an axis at anangle to the axis of rotation of said driven member, a rigid member connected to said gyrator forilimited universal tilting relative thereto and pivoted to said agitator about an axis perpendicular to the axis thereof.

6. In a suction cleaner having uction-creating means, a nozzle, and an air passageway therebetween; a rotating driving member in said passageway at said suction-creatingmeans, a rotating driven member in said nozzle, bearing means rotatably supporting said driven member in said nozzle, power-transmission means connecting said driving and said driven members. an eccentric bearing having co-axial inner and outer races carried by said driven member, a gyrator rotatably seated in said bearing in said driven member, a body of resilient material carried by said gyrator, an' agitator in said nozzle mounted for arcuate rotary motion about an axis at an angle to the axis of rotation of said driven member, and a rigid member connected to and moved by said body of resilient material on said gyrator and connected to said agitator to pivot same.

7. In a suction cleaner having suction-creating means, a nozzle, and an air passageway there- K in said bearing for movement in between; airotating driving member in said passageway at said suction-creating means, a rotating driven member in said nozzle, bearing means rotatably supporting said driven member in said nozzle, power-transmission means connecting said driving and said driven members, an eccentric bearing having co-axial inner and outer racesv carried by said driven member, a gyrator rotatably seated in said bearing in said driven member, an agitator in said nozzle mounted for 10 arcuate rotary motion about anaxis at an angle tothe aids of rotation of said driven member, and a rigid member connected to said gyrator by a ball and socket joint and pivoted torsaid agitator about an axis thereof, and adapted to rotate therewith.

8. In a suction cleaner, a driving motor, a pivoted reciprocating surface covering agitator, and' power transmission means connecting said motor to said agitator, said means including an ele- 20 ment moved in-a circular path by said motor, a resilient body, and a rigid element connected to said body for movement relative thereto, said body and said rigid element being connected between said first-mentioned element and said agi- 25 tator to translate the movementof that element into a reversing pivotal movement of said agitutor .1 I

9. In a suction cleaner, a drive shaft. a pulley spacedfrom. said drive shaft, means mounting 3 said pulley for rotation about an axis substantially parallel to said shaft, a power-transmitting belt connecting said shaft to said pulley, an internal bearing mounted within the body of said pulley, the axis of said bearing being parallel to the axis of rotation of said pulley and spaced therefrom, a gyrator rotatably mounted in said bearing for movement in a circular path upon the rotation of said pulley, a surface covering agitator mounted for alternate rotary 40 movement, and means connecting said agitator to said gyrator to pivot said agitator upon movement of said gyrator:

10. In a suction cleaner, a drive shaft, a pulley spaced from said drive shaft, said pulley for rotation about an axis substantially parallel to said shaft, a power-transmitting belt connecting said shaft to said pulley, an internal bearing mounted within the body of said pulley, allel to the axis of rotation of said pulley and spaced therefrom, a gyrator rotatably mounted a circular path upon the rotation of said pulley, a surface coverperpendicular to the axis 15 means mounting 5 the axis of said bearing being par- 0 ing agitator mounted for alternate rotary movement, and means connecting said gyrator to said agitator comprising a resilient seat carried by said gyrator anda rigid member pivotally connected to said agitator and seated in said seat.

11. In a suction cleaner, a drive shaft, a pulley spaced from said drive shaft, means mounting said pulley for rotation about an axis substantially parallel to said shaft, 9. power-transmitting belt connecting said shaft to said pulley, a bearing carried by said pulley, the axis of said bearing being parallel to theaxis of rotation of said pulley and spaced therefrom, a gyrator rotatably mounted in said bearing for movement in a circular path upon the rotation of said pulley, a surface covering agitator tary movement, and means connecting said.

agitator to said gyrator to pivot said agitator upon movement of said gyrator.

12. In a suction cleaner having suction-creating means, a nozzle, and an air passageway there- 75 mounted for alternate robetween; a rotating driving member in said passageway at said suction-creating means, a bearing seat positioned on a wall of said nozzle, a bearing in said seat, a shaft rotatably mounted in said bearing, a pulley carried by said shaft, a power-transmitting belt connecting said driving member to said pulley, an eccentric bearing carried by said pulley, a gyrator carried by said eccentric bearing, an agitator in said nozzle mounted for arcuate rotary motion about an axis at an angle to the axis of rotation of said driven member, a lever member connected to said gyrator for limited universal tilting relative thereto and pivoted to said agitator upon an axis extended at an angle to the axis thereof.

to atmosphere exterior of said nozzle, a bearing in said seat, a shaft rotatably mounted in said bearing, a pulley carried by said shaft, a powert-ransmitting belt connecting said driving member to said pulley, an eccentric bearing connected to and rotated by said pulley and shaft; a gyrator carried by said eccentric bearing, an agitator in said nozzle mounted for arcuate rotary motion about an axis at an angle to the axis of rotation of said driven member, a lever member connected to said gyrator for limited universal tilting relative thereto and pivoted to said agitator upon an axis extended at an angle to the axis thereof.

14. In a suction cleaner having suction-creating means, a nozzle, and an air passageway therebetween; a rotating driving member in said passageway at said suction-creating means, a bearing seat positioned in said nozzle, a bearing in said seat, resilient spacing means mounting said bearing in said seat, a shaft mounted for rotation in said bearing, a pulley carried by said shaft, a labyrinth seal formed upon the adjacent faces of said pulley and said bearing seat to protect said bearing from foreign material, a belt connecting said pulley to said driving member, an eccentric bearing connected to and translated by said pulley about the pulley axis, a gyrator carried by said eccentric bearing, an agitator in said nozzle mounted for arcuate rotary motion about an axis at an angle to the axis of rotation of said driven member, a lever member connected to said gyrator for limited universal tilting relative thereto and pivoted to said agitator upon an axis extended at an angle to the axis thereof.

15. In a suction cleaner, a driving motor, a pivoted reciprocating surface covering agitator, and power transmission means connecting said motor to said agitator, said means including an element moved in a circular path by said motor and comprising a resilient body, and a rigid arm project'- ing radially from said agitator and having its free end embedded in said resilient body, whereby a reversing pivotal movement is transmitted to said agitator.

said body, said rigid element being adapted to pivot said agitator about its pivotal axis upon the actuation of said first-mentioned element.

17. In a suction cleaner, a rotating driving member, a power-transmitting member, a rotating driven member, an eccentric carried by said driven member, a surface-contacting agitator pivoted for movement about an axis perpendicular to the axis of said driven member, and means connecting said eccentric member to said agitator to reciprocate said agitator as said eccentric member revolves about'the center of rotation of said driven member, said means comprising a rigid force-transmitting member and a resilient seat on said eccentric member permitting limited universal movement between said rigid member and said eccentric member, said rigid member being connected to said agitator by a pivotal connection about an axis perpendicular to the pivotal axis of said agitator.

18. In an apparatus of the type described a rotating driving member and a reciprocating agitator andmeans to convert the rotary motion of said driving element into reciprocation at said agitator comprising a gyrating deformable body, means actuated by said rotating member to translate said body in an orbit, and an element carried by said body and connected to said agitator to transmit a moving force thereto.

19. Inyan apparatus of the type described a rotating driving member and a reciprocating agitator and means to convert the rotary motion of said driving element into reciprocation at said agitator comprising a gyrating deformable body, means actuated by said driving member translating said gyrator in an orbit, means pivotally mounting said agitator for movement about an axis in a plane parallel to the plane including said orbit, and means to transmit to said agitator the movement of said gyrator which is normal to the pivotal axis of said agitator.

DONALD G. sammm CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No 2,111+,ll6. April 12, 1958.

DONALD co SMELLIE.

of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows Page. 3, first column, line 15, claiin 5, before "resilient" insert the word translatable same page and column, line 1;), claim 5, after "eccentric" insert bearing;

and that the said letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Pateht Office.

Signed and sealed this lhth day of June, A. D. 1938.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

